Sikh Youth Lead Workshop on Bullying

August 29, 2011 (Queens, NY) – Last week, six members of the Sikh Coalition’s youth group, the Sikh Youth of New York (SYNY), experienced their first summer camp at Camp Chardi Kala, one of the longest running Sikh camps in the United States. The youth members from Queens, New York participated in a week of Sikhi-related educational activities, along with 195 other youths from across the East Coast.

Additionally, the youth members led an anti-bullying workshop for 80 Sikh youths to educate them on their rights as it pertains to bullying. The workshop began by the SYNY introducing themselves and the work they do on bullying in Queens, NY. They then showed a video that they had developed on bullying, which outlined their experiences and message on bullying in schools. They also shared a Know Your Rights brochure that they prepared to educate Sikh youth on their rights as students and on how to respond to bullying in schools.

The anti-bullying workshop was very well received by camp participants and the discussion that followed revealed the considerable number of bullying incidents that Sikh youths face in schools. The Sikh Coalition extends its gratitude to Camp Chardi Kala for their leadership in providing a safe and fun environment for Sikh youth to learn and discover Sikhi, and to discuss their experiences on bullying.

“Through Camp Chardi Kala, I learned how great it is to be Sikh and how incorporating my religion into my American lifestyle is not that difficult.” - Kirty Singh, 16 (Sikh Coalition youth member)

The Sikh Coalition is grateful to the support it received to sponsor the Sikh Youth of New York to attend camp. Without these sponsorships, this experience would not have been possible for the Sikh youth.

“Camp Chardi Kala was a whole new experience for me. Living in the Bronx, you don’t see a lot of Sikhs around. The feeling of knowing there are others of your own kind was probably the best part.” - Sikh Coalition Youth Member

As always, we urge Sikhs everywhere to fearlessly practice their faith. If you or your children are being bullied, teased or physically hurt at school because of your Sikh identity, please contact us immediately at youth@sikhcoalition.org.

The Sikh Coalition is a community-based organization that works towards the realization of civil and human rights for all people. The Coalition serves as a resource on Sikhs and Sikh concerns for governments, organizations and individuals.

The Sikh Coalition relies on your financial support to sustain its initiatives and broaden its services. In addition to supporting the Sikh Coalition directly, we encourage you to use matching donation programs offered by many employers. The Sikh Coalition is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. Thank you for your support.